An SLO is any body corporate that holds a Sports Lottery Permit (SLP) for the operation of a Sports Lottery on an inter-state platform in Nigeria.

Who may apply for a Sports Lottery Permit (SLP)?

An individual cannot apply for a Sport Lottery (betting) Permit, only a fit and proper body corporate as contained in Section 19(1) of the NLA 2005.

However the following can apply:

Existing Licensees

All companies currently operating the business of sports lottery (betting) either with or without State license or permit.

Any registered company with the intention to operate the business of Sports lottery (betting) beyond the physical boundaries of the state, including but not limited to online activities (Internet).

What is Sports Lottery (Betting)?

Sports Lottery or sports betting as it is most commonly referred to, is any activity of predicting sporting results and placing a wager on its outcome with the hope of winning a set prize.

With the global emerging market of the lottery industry and technological advances such as the World Wide Web, lottery services can be offered through multiple distribution channels such as Personal Computers, Mobile devices, Short Messaging Services (SMS) etc.

The National Lottery Act, 2005 empowers the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to regulate and administer Lottery business in Nigeria.

Section 7 of the National Lottery Act 2005 gives power to the Commission to “…regulate the operation and business of the national lottery in Nigeria…” ; the Commission under Section 19 of the Act, has the power to “…grant licence to any person or body corporate to operate a national lottery or any lottery…”.

Lottery is defined under Section 57 of the Act as “any game, scheme, arrangement, system, plan, promotional competition or device for the distribution of prizes by lot or chance or as a result of the exercise of skill and chance or based on an outcome or sporting event…”. The aforementioned empowers the National Lottery Regulatory Commission to regulate any and all Lotteries relating to sports events.

All companies presently operating the business of sports lottery (betting) and prospective companies are expected to obtain a Sports Lottery Permit (SLP) from the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).

All sports lottery (betting) operators must confine their business to the boundaries of sporting activities.

Revenue Generated from Sports Lottery (betting) will be applied to such projects relating to sports development, education, social services, public welfare and relief, and management of natural disasters in Nigeria.